Some bosses need to take a kindness pill!

NikNox

Hi all,

This is just a rant really. I've posted before about how unreasonable and unfriendly my husband's boss is, but he's just been too mean for words.

My hubby writes electronic music in his spare time. It's a major hobby, taking up most evenings, weekends and our entire conservatory! He writes breakbeat, dubstep, electronica. Not my cup of tea, but it's his. He's been doing this a few years now. A few weeks ago he sent a couple of his tracks to BBC Introducing, and last week got a call from BBC Radio Wiltshire (our local station) to say they wanted to play 2 of his tracks that evening and have him as their 'featured artist'. Fantastic! He did a phone interview too, and was featured in the evening on the radio.

Today, when he was at work, he got a call from BBC Radio 1, Zane Low show. They had heard him and asked if he wanted to go to London tomorrow to the Maida Vale Studios to record a live set for the Zane Low Show!!!! Imagine his excitement?? Anyway, he went in to ask his boss if he could take the day off, apologised for the short notice etc., and the unfeeling selfish so and so said no. He said that he couldn't spare him (they're at full capacity at the moment, and hubby has coped on his own in the past!) and said he would be receiving a written warning for receiving a personal phone call during work time. He was told it's apparent he leaves at 5pm so he can get home to his studio (his contracted hours are 9-5, but some staff work later if needs be although this isn't obligatory), and that it wasn't good enough. He was also told not to discuss his music with his work colleagues, or take in tunes on memory sticks for them as any 'idle chit chat' isn't permitted. Talk about deflation!

So, poor hubby is devastated. The show called him back at lunchtime to discuss details, and when he told them he couldn't go they were shocked and said most bosses allowed it. They'll keep him in mind for future shows, but it's likely to be short notice again.

I know there isn't anything he can do about going tomorrow, but surely they can't issue him with a written warning about receiving the call at work (how was Radio 1 meant to know he was at work, and you're hardly gonna ignore a call like that are you?). But, I guess they can issue him with a written warning. Also, they have now said that no member of staff is permitted to have their mobile phones at their desks in future, because of hubby taking that call today.

So unfair :mad:

bluenoseam

If you're at work you're not supposed to take personal calls unless it's an emergency - which this hardly was, I dare say if they were so interested in him they would leave a message, fully understanding that sometimes people just can't take calls. If I was his boss I would give him a written warning & inform them that in future personal calls are done on personal time.

ohreally

NikNox wrote: »

Anyway, he went in to ask his boss if he could take the day off, apologised for the short notice etc., and the unfeeling selfish so and so said no. He said that he couldn't spare him (they're at full capacity at the moment, and hubby has coped on his own in the past!) and said he would be receiving a written warning for receiving a personal phone call during work time.

Any warning should follow a properly convened disciplinary hearing.

To inform your husband that he would be recieving a warning, suggests any outcome is pre-decided - this would almost certainly go against natural justice.

Is there a policy which forbids incoming private calls?

I would be minded to tell the employer to bring it on.

NikNox

bluenoseam wrote: »

If you're at work you're not supposed to take personal calls unless it's an emergency - which this hardly was, I dare say if they were so interested in him they would leave a message, fully understanding that sometimes people just can't take calls. If I was his boss I would give him a written warning & inform them that in future personal calls are done on personal time.

No it wasn't an emergency, but was something that could have been potentially life changing (many artists have hit gold through being featured on BBC Introducing). However, if my husband took his allocated breaks in their entirety I could perhaps understand his boss being miffed about a personal call. But, he doesn't, none of them do. They're allowed an hour for lunch but none of them take an hour, usually just 20 minutes to eat and then back to it as otherwise they get scowled at by the boss. Therefore, the odd personal call should be tolerated, in my opinion. Where I work, because we don't take breaks (too busy) if we take five to chat or take a call, no-one bats an eyelid. A written warning, in this instance is just too harsh.

NikNox

ohreally wrote: »

Any warning should follow a properly convened disciplinary hearing.

To inform your husband that he would be recieving a warning, suggests any outcome is pre-decided - this would almost certainly go against natural justice.

Is there a policy which forbids incoming private calls?

I would be minded to tell the employer to bring it on.

absolutely, I will remind him of this when he's cooled off a bit (he is not a happy bunny this evening!). No, there is no policy regarding mobile use or receiving personal calls at work, emergency or otherwise. When Olympic tickets went up for sale, some members of staff were permitted to use the internet to purchase them. Methinks that's kind of the same thing! But, it seems to be one rule for one, other rules for others, and all totally dependent on how the boss is feeling.

Sambucus_Nigra

Is the boss 'the boss' or is there someone above him or a HR dept at all?

I have to say what a complete *unt.

Next time, don't tell the boss what it is for, just that it's a personal thing that needs addressing.

NikNox

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Is the boss 'the boss' or is there someone above him or a HR dept at all?

I have to say what a complete *unt.

Next time, don't tell the boss what it is for, just that it's a personal thing that needs addressing.

That's the word my hubby used to describe him, very fitting. He is the boss boss, owns the company

But, from now on hubby is going to work according to his Contract.9-5 Mon to Friday with a 15 minute break in the morning & a whole hour for lunch. No more being in work for 8.30 or only having 20 mins for lunch with no other breaks. Boss won't like it, but tough!

ohreally

Perhaps its time hubby introduced a strange bitter after-taste into the bosses coffee.

Sambucus_Nigra

NikNox wrote: »

That's the word my hubby used to describe him, very fitting. He is the boss boss, owns the company

But, from now on hubby is going to work according to his Contract.9-5 Mon to Friday with a 15 minute break in the morning & a whole hour for lunch. No more being in work for 8.30 or only having 20 mins for lunch with no other breaks. Boss won't like it, but tough!

A chum of mine asked for time off to tour the southern states of the USA a while back and John Lewis [of all people] refused to give him a sabbatical so he told them to do one.

It's such bad form - he would have gotten more than the 8 hours back from your hubby just by saying yes.

westv

How on earth can you be given a written warning for receiving a personal call? You're not going to know it's personal until you receive it.

Torry_Quine

westv wrote: »

How on earth can you be given a written warning for receiving a personal call? You're not going to know it's personal until you receive it.

It was on his personal mobile phone so what else would it be.

I'm sorry that he's missed this opportunity but was it really realistic to expect to get a day off with only one day as notice. I'm constantly amazed that people see nothing wrong with having their mobile phone on all the time. It should be switched off at work and anyone who has to get in touch for an emergency can call the work surely.